New Delhi, Dec. 22 -- The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the Uttarakhand government authorities for sitting as "silent spectators" while large-scale encroachment and illegal grabbing of forest land by private entities took place infront of their eyes.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi initiated a suo motu case over encroachment and illegal grabbing of forest land in Uttarakhand.

The bench directed the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to constitute an Enquiry Committee and submit a report.

The apex court, in an interim order, also restrained private entities from alienating the subject land or creating third-party rights thereon.

No construction shall tak...